Administration loans approved for the Aspen Acres fire are now available to Colorado homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits facing uninsured damage in Pueblo and Custer counties. Gov. Jared Polis announced Friday that the U.S. Small Business Administration approved Colorado’s disaster assistance request. Businesses affected by the fire can apply for loans of up to $2 million.
The Administration loans approved for fire losses cover uninsured damage. Homeowners may seek up to $500,000 to repair or replace uninsured damage to a home. Homeowners and renters may apply for up to $100,000 to replace damaged belongings.
Administration Loans Approved With Two Deadlines
Applications for physical damage loans are due Dec. 14. The deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is July 14, 2027. The two deadlines apply to different loan types, and applicants can contact the SBA at 1-800-659-2955 for assistance.
Polis said Colorado moved quickly to secure the assistance and encouraged affected residents and businesses to explore the available resources. He said the loans could help families repair homes, replace belongings and reopen doors. The source identifies these as low-interest loans but does not provide rates or repayment terms.
Loan Centers Open Monday
The SBA plans to open Disaster Loan Assistance Centers on Monday at the Pueblo County Government Services Center and Wetmore Community Library. People may request in-person appointments online at appointment.sba.gov. SBA specialists at the centers can help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about programs available to support recovery, Chris Stallings said in a news release.
Stallings, associate administrator of the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery, described the centers as an important resource for small businesses and their communities after disasters. The centers add an in-person application option alongside the online appointment process and the assistance number.
The application process is part of a wider recovery effort described by the governor. Earlier this month, Polis said Colorado would cover 75% of the nonfederal cost share for projects addressing flood risks after the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires. The work would run through the USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection program. Polis said covering more local costs would help counties protect communities, families, homes and infrastructure from flooding while freeing local funds for other recovery needs.
The new loans follow separate federal decisions involving other Colorado fires. In early September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved Colorado’s major disaster declaration requests for the Elk and Lee fires in Rio Blanco County. The fires occurred over the summer. The agency denied Colorado’s request for individual and hazard-mitigation assistance for people affected by the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires.
For small businesses considering recovery financing, the application dates and loan limits provide the immediate next steps. Breaking 9 To 5 has also covered small business loan funding and small business grant deadlines. A separate report on federal contracting assistance covers another form of business support. Affected applicants can use the SBA’s stated deadlines, online appointments or assistance number to pursue the disaster loans.